Korean J. Pl. Taxon. (2010) Vol. 40 No. 1, pp. 74-77

Wild edible flowering plants of the Illam Hills (Eastern Nepal) and their mode of use by the local community.

Amal Kumar Ghimeray1,2, Pankaja Sharma2, Bimal Ghimire2, Kabir Lamsal4, Balkrishna Ghimire4 and Dong Ha Cho2,3* 1Mt. Everest college, Bhaktapur, Kathmandu, Nepal. 2School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200-701, South Korea. 3Institute of Bioscience & Biotechnology, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200-701, Korea. 4Trivuwan University, Botany Department, Kathmandu, Nepal. (Received 2 July 2009 : Accepted 2 March 2010)

ABSTRACT: The Illam district, situated in the extreme North Eastern part (Latitude 26.58N and 87.58E Lon- gitude) of Nepal, is a hot spot for floral diversity. The study of wild edible plants of this region was an attempt to highlight the types of wild flowering plants found there and mode of use by the people of the Illam hills. In this respect, a survey of natural resources of some of the representative regions of the district was undertaken and more than 74 major varieties of plant species were found to be used frequently by the people of the hills. The rich diversity occurring in Dioscoriaceae, Moraceae, Rosaceae, Myrtaceae, Poaceae, Urticaceae and Arecaceae pro- vided the wild angiospermic species commonly used by the people of the hills. Keywords: Natural resources, wild edible, flowering plants, Illam hills

Nepal is endowed with a wide range of agro-ecological zones, summer between the months of May and September. Due to large variations in climatic and physiographic conditions, which this wide array of climatic zones, the district is a hot spot for have resulted in a rich flora (Olsen, 1998). Forest is the most diversified vegetation. important asset that provides the basic necessities and the second This district is equipped with a wide range of agro-ecological major source of Nepal’s income after agriculture. The country is zones and conditions, and most of the people of Illam inhabit considered rich in genetic resources of plant species. Recently, in rural areas and are farmers. Moreover, these rural people of Bhuju et al. (2007) have reported about 6,666 species of flowering Illam hills are blessed with a deep knowledge concerning the plants in Nepal. According to Chaudhary (1998), Nepal shares use of wild plants which are consumed at times of drought and more than 2% of world’s flowering plants, while its land area other hardship. Elders and other knowledgeable community comprises no more than 0.1%. In case of fruit crops, 45 species members are the key sources of plant lore. As such, wild-food belonging to 37 genera are reported as wild edible fruits by consumption is very common in rural areas of the hill. Wild Kaini (1994). edible plant products consists of a variety of plants of which Illam district is situated on the extreme North Eastern part leafy and tender parts of stalks, fruits, berries, seeds, roots, tubers (Latitude 26.58N and 87.58E Longitude) of Nepal. It is and corns are mainly used for consumption. These plant products surrounded by Sikkim boarder (India) on the North, West Bengal have been used since pre-historic times by the aboriginal people, boarder (India) on the East and on the West and South there are as a food, as well as traditional medicines (Singh, 1968). Panchther and Jhapa districts of Nepal respectively. The district Therefore, forest resources play an important role in the life has a total area of about 1703 sq. km. The climate of Illam of the rural people for their food, medicine, fodder, fuel, etc. generally is of moderate type but during winter it is quite cold The reason to initiate a study on wild-edible plants was to in the Northern side. The maximum summer temperature ranges document indigenous knowledge on wild-foods to identify and between 22−25oC and winter temperature falls below 10oC and understand better the importance of wild-food plants in the some times even drop down to 0oC. Rainfall occurs mostly in livelihood of the rural people of the district. This paper supple- ments the minor details of some of those economically important *Author for correspondence: [email protected] wild edible angiospermic plants of the Illam hills of Nepal.

74 Wild edible flowering plants of Illam Hills (Eastern Nepal) 75

Method with the help of the references of Bajracharya (1980), Hooker (1878), Hara (1966), Kitumura (1955), Kaini (1999), Mall et al. Regular field trips in different areas of Illam hills during the (1982), Manandhar (2002), Shrestha (1984), and Singh (1968). year 2002−2003 were conducted to investigate the wild edible plants used by the rural people. The people of different age Results and Discussion groups were interviewed and investigated. The identification, vernacular names and information regarding their mode of use The study in the district revealed that about 74 varieties of was recorded with the help of village elders. Likewise, local plant species of which leafy and tender parts of stalks, pseudo- market survey also helped to draw data uses, food values, stems, fruits, berries, seeds, roots and tubers are mainly used for demands and preferences. The investigated plants were identified consumption. Table 1 shows the detail of commonly available wild

Table 1. List of wild edible flowering plants found in the Illam Hills of Nepal and mode of use. No. Taxon Family Nepali name and habit Edible parts and mode of use 1 Aconogonum molle Polygonaceae Thotney (Tree) Young shoots used for curry and pickle 2 Anthocephalus cadamba Rubiaceae Kadam (Tree) Seed are roasted and the oil is consumed 3 Antidesma acidum Euphorbiaceae Archal (Tree) Ripen fruits are consumed 4 Arisaema erubescens Araceae Gurbe (Herb) Shoots used as curry after pilling and Corn is eaten after repeated boiling 5 Arundinaria maling Poaceae Malingo (Herb) Young shoots used as curry and pickle 6 Atrocarpus lakoocha Moraceae Barar (Tree) Used as a fruit and vegetable (raw fruits) 7 Bassia butyracea Sapotaceae Chiwree (Tree) Fruits pulp is used as juice and seed is used as culinary purpose 8 Bauhinia vahlii Fabaceae Bhorla (Herb) Seeds are roasted and consumed 9 Bauhinia purpurea Caesalpiniaceae Tanki (Tree) Only shoots are used as vegetable curry 10 Begnonia inflata Bignoiaceae Magarkachey (Herb) Shoot and leaves are used to make pickle and jam 11 Betula cylindrostachys Betulaceae Saur (Tree) Bark is chewed as a substitute of betel nut 12 Castanopsis hystrix Fagaceae Katoos (Tree) Fruits (nut) are roasted and consumed 13 Castanopsis indica Fagaceae Dhalnae Katoos (Tree) Fruits (nut) are roasted and consumed 14 Caryota urens Arecaceae Rangbhang (Tree) Inner core pith and terminal bud cooked as vegetable 15 Chenopodium album Chenopodiaceae Bethusaag (Herb) Young twigs are used as vegetable 16 Choerospondias axillaris Anacardiaceae Lapsee (Tree) Semi-ripen fruits are used for pickle and jam 17 Cinnamomum tamala Lauraceae Tejpat (Tree) Leaves are used as condiment 18 Cinnamomum obtusifolium Lauraceae Sinkauli (Tree) Whole plant use as condiments 20 Citrus decumina Rutaceae Sankatra (Shurb) Fruits are used to make jam and pickles 21 Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Poaceae Tama (Herb) Young shoot used as curry and pickle called “Meso” 22 Dioscorea oppostitifolia Dioscoriaceae Gidha (Herb) Tuber is boiled, pilled and consumed 22 Dioscorea hamiltoni Dioscoriaceae Bantarul (Herb) Tuber and root is boiled and eaten after peeling 23 Docynia indica Rosaceae Mail (Tree) Fruits are consumed, made jam and pickle 24 Elaeocarpus sikkimensis Eleocarpaceae Bhadrasey (Tree) Fruits pulp and seeds are eaten 25 Emblica officinalis Euphorbiaceae Amala (Tree) Fruits are used as pickles and also use as a medicine 26 Eugenia kurzii Myrtaceae Ambakay (Tree) Fruits pulps are consumed 27 Ficus semicordata Moraceae Khanyu (Tree) Underground fruits are eaten 28 Ficus hookeriana Moraceae Nebharo (Tree) Fruits thalamus, receptacles are commonly consumed 29 Ficus benghalensis Moraceae Bar (Tree) Young shoots and ripen fruits are eaten 30 Ficus lacor Moraceae Kabra (Tree) Fresh unopened leaf buds are boiled in water and used as pickle 31 Fragaria nubicola Rosaceae Bhui aiselu (Shurb) Fruits (berry) are consumed after ripening 32 Myrica esculenta Myricaceae Kafal (Tree) Ripen fruits are consumed Inflorescence and young leaves are used as vegetable, soup and 33 Girardinia diversifolia Urticaceae Bhangray Sisnu (Herb) medicine in high blood pressure 34 Gynocordia odorata Flacourtiaceae Gante (Tree) Ripen seeds are roasted and oil is extracted for consumption Inflorescence used as pickle and seeds are used as medicine during 35 Heracleum wallichii Umbelliferae Chimphing (Herb) influenza 36 Horsefieldia kingii Myrsticaceae Ramgua (Tree) Fruit are used to make jam and pickle 37 Ilex hookeri Liliaceae Lise (Tree) Ripe fruits are consumed 38 Juglans regia Juglandaceae Okhar (Tree) Fruits (kernel) are consumed 39 Magnifera sylvatica Anacardiaceae Chuchche Aanp (Tree) Ripe fruits are used for sour pickle 40 Mechilus edulis Lauraceae Lapchephal (Tree) Fruits are eaten raw

Korean J. Pl. Taxon, Vol. 40, No. 1 76 Amal Kumar Ghimeray, Pankaja Sharma, Bimal Ghimire, Kabir Lamsal, Balkrishna Ghimire and Dong Ha Cho

Table 1. Continued. No. Taxon Family Nepali name and habit Edible parts and mode of use 41 Moringa oleifera Moringaceae Sajana (Tree) Flowers and fruits are used to make curry 42 Morus indica Moraceae Kimbu (Tree) Berries are used to make jam, jellies and drinks 43 Musa bulbisiana Musaceae Bankera (Herb) Green fruits used as vegetable after boiling and Spathe for pickle 44 Musa sapientum Musaceae Bankera (Herb) Green fruits used as vegetable after boiling and spathe for pickle 45 Nasturtium officinale Cruciferae Shimrayo (Herb) Whole plant parts are used for vegetable and medicine for body ache The flowers and pods are used as vegetable and medicine 46 Oroxylum indicum Bignoniaceae Totala (Tree) (anti-helminthes) 47 Oxalis corniculata Oxalidaceae Chariamilo (Herb) Leaves are cooked and used as curry 48 Pandanus nepalensis Pandanaceae Tarika (Tree) Fruits are used to make pickle 49 Persicaria runcinata Polygonaceae Ratnaulo (Herb) Whole plant parts are used to make vegetable 50 Pentapanax leschenaultii Araliaceae Chinde (Tree) Tender leaves after boiling are used as curry 51 Phoenix syhestrix Arecaceae Thakal (Tree) Soft piths are eaten raw 52 Phoenix acaulis Arecaceae Betgera (Tree) Raw fruits are used to make vegetable curry 53 Phyllostachys edulis Poaceae Kattabans (Herb) Young shoots are used to make curry and pickles 54 Prinsepia utilis Rosaceae Phekray (Tree) Seed oil is consumed 55 Prunus cerasoides Rosaceae Paiyon (Tree) Ripened fruits are consumed 56 Rhododendron arboreum Ericaceae Gurash (Tree) Flowers are eaten raw, or make local wine (Raksi), jam and cold drink Fruits are boiled in hot water to isolate sour vinegar like liquid and 57 Rhus semialata Anacardiaceae Bhakimlo (Tree) used in pickles 58 Rubus foliolosus Rosaceae Kalo Aiselu (Herb) Fruits are consumed and prepare jam 59 Rubus ellipticus Rosaceae Pahelo Aiselu (Herb) Fruits are consumed and prepare jam 60 Rubus acuminatus Rosaceae Rato Aiselu (Herb) Fruits are consumed and prepare jam 61 Rumex nepalensis Polygonaceae Halhaley (Herb) Young shoots and leaves are cooked as curry 62 Sapindus detergens Sapindaceae Rittha (Tree) Fruits are used for oil extraction and consumed 63 Smilax zeylanica Smilacaceae Kukurdainy (Herb) Leaves and shoots are used as curry after boiling 64 Solanum indicum Solanaceae Bihi (Herb) Raw and ripe fruits are eaten as vegetabl 65 Spondias Magnifera Anacardaceae Anara (Tree) Flowers are made curry and used for flavoring 66 Syzygium operculatum Myrtaceae Khyamuna (Tree) Fruits are consumed after ripening 67 Syzygium jambolanum Myrtaceae Jamuna (Tree) Fruits are used to make jam, jellies and vinegar 68 Syzygium aromaticum Myrtaceae Kusum (Tree) Fruits pulp parts and aerial succulent parts are consumed 69 Trichosanthes palmata Cucurbitaceae Indreyni (Herb) Tender shoots are used for vegetable Inflorescence and young leaves are used for vegetable, soup and 70 Urtica dioica Urticaceae Sishnu (Herb) medicine Inflorescence and young leaves are used for vegetable, soup and 71 Urtica parviflora Urticaceae Sishnu (Herb) medicine 72 Viburnum erubescens Caprifoliaceae Asarey (Tree) Ripe fruits are eaten raw 73 Wallichia disticha Palmae Thakal (Tree) Fruits and Pith are consumed raw 74 Woodfordia fruiticosa Lythraceae Dhangera (Herb) Honey like secretion of flowers is consumed

edible plants used for food among the rural people of the district. lakoocha (Barar), Bassia butyraceae (Chiwere), Megnifera sylvatica Researches have shown that Nasturtium officinale (Simrayo), Urtica (Chucheaap), Syzygium jambolanum (Jamuna), Castanopsis spp. spp. (Sisnu), Dendrocalamus spp. (Tama), Ficus lacor (Kabro), (Katoos), Morus indica (Kimbu), Syzygium aromaticum (Kusum), Rhododendron spp. (Guras), Spondias magnifera (Anara), Syzygium operculatium (Kyamuna), Choerospondias axillaris Chenopodium album (Bethu) are used almost year around and are (Lapse), Docynia indica (Mail), Ficus hookeriana (Nebaroo), very popular for their leafy vegetable, shoots and flowers. Among and Oroxylum indicum (Thakal) which serves direct substitute the roots and tubers, D. hamiltoni (Bantarul) and D. oppositifolia of foods to the people during harsh condition. Besides this, some (Githa) are also very popular in the rural community. Likewise, wild of the plant products such as tubers of Dioscorea hemiltoni, flower fruits gain its great influence especially to the children. The of Oroxylum indicum and Juglans regia are culturally linked with commonly used and popular fruits belonging to the family Rosaceae, the people of the hills. Among the consumed plants species, most Moraceae, Myrtaceae, Poaceae, Urticaceae, Arecaceae, Diosco- of them are found in the local market throughout the year in the reaceae, Anacardiaceae and Musaceae are Rubus spp.(Aaiselu), season. However, some of the wild foods due to scare availability Emblica officinale (Amala), Ficus benghalensis (Bar), Atrocarpus are consumed locally and doesn’t reach the market.

한국식물분류학회지 제40권 1호 Wild edible flowering plants of Illam Hills (Eastern Nepal) 77

ment Programme (UNEP), Ministry of Environment Science Conclusion and Technology (MoEST), Government of Nepal. Chaudhary, R. P. 1998. Biodiversity in Nepal: Status and Conserva- It is evident form the study that the rural people of Illam tion. S. Devi, Saharanpur (U.P.), India and Tec. Press Books, hills consumed considerable amount of wild plants that makes Bangkok, Thailand. a major contribution to dietary intake to the people during the Hara, H. 1966. Ed. The flora of eastern Himalaya, University of times of food shortage. Hence, the consumption of wild plants Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. Pp. 627-657. is a necessary part of the strategies adopted by the people in Hooker, J. D. 1878. Flora of British India, Vol. 2, L. Reeve, London. order to survive in a harsh and unfavorable environment. Kaini, B. R. 1994. Status of fruit Plant genetic resources in Nepal. However, the innocent rural people have very little knowledge In Plant Genetic Resources Nepalese Perspective, by NARC about the nutritional value or about the possible toxic effects that and IPGR. Kathmandu, Nepal. Pp.103-111. can cause due to prolonged consumption of wild non domesticated Kaini, B. R. 1999. Green Energy Mission, Nepal, Annam Nagar, plant. Therefore, further steps should be taken for the research Kathmandu. In The Proceedings of National Conference on on the nutritional values and their positive and negative effects Wild Relatives of Cultivated Plants in Nepal. Shrestha, R. and on the health of the consumers. B. Shrestha (eds.). Nepal. Pp. 129-136. Kitamura, S. 1955. Flowering plants and ferns. In Fauna and Flora Acknowledgements of Nepal Himalaya. Kihara, H.(ed.), 1: 148. Malla, S. B., S. B. Rajbhandari, T. B. Shrestha, P. M. Adhikari and Author would like to acknowledge Mt. Everest College, S. R. Adhikari. 1982. Wild edible plants of Nepal, Kathmandu. Bhaktapur, Nepal, for financial help and also grateful to the Department of Medicinal Plants, HMG/Nepal. farmers in the study areas. Special thanks to Mr. Ram Chandra Manandhar, N. P. 2002. Plants and People of Nepal. Timber Press, Kafle (University of Indianapolis) for manuscript correction. Inc., Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. Shrestha, K. 1984. A field guide to Nepali names for plants (2nd Ed.). Literature Cited Natural history museum. Inst. Sc. Tech., Tribhuwan Univer- sity, Nepal. Bajracharya, D. 1980. Nutritional values of Nepalese edible wild Singh, S. C. 1968. Some wild plants of food value in Nepal. J. fruits. Z. Lebensm. Unters. Forsch. 171:363-366. Tribhuwan University Kath. 4(2): 50-56. Bhuju, U. R, P. R. Shakya, T. B. Basnet and S. Shrestha. 2007. Olsen, C. S. 1998. The trade in medicinal and aromatic plants from Nepal Biodiversity Resource Book. United Nations Environ- central Nepal to northern India. Econ. Bot. 52(3): 279-292.

Korean J. Pl. Taxon, Vol. 40, No. 1